The Chief Constable of Cumbria Police was appointed to the job by Her Majesty the Queen, with Home Secretary Theresa May making her recommendation to the Palace after conducting the final interview for the role alongside London Mayor Boris Johnson and new Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe.
On the appointment Home Secretary Theresa May said: “I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Craig Mackey as the new Deputy Commissioner. He brings a wealth of experience to what is undoubtedly one of the most challenging jobs in policing.”
May added: “It has been a period of big change for the Metropolitan Police Service, but this decision completes a very strong team at the head of the country’s biggest force.”
As well as being quizzed by the final panel comprising the Home Secretary, the London Mayor and the Met Commissioner, Mackey was also interviewed by a specially convened Home Office Panel and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Craig Mackey has a strong track record in public order and will bring a new dynamism to the role of Deputy Commissioner. We have an exciting year ahead, with major operations tackling gangs and serious youth violence plus the challenge of policing the Olympic Games. I’m sure Craig Mackey will prove to be a real asset in driving the Met from strength to strength in 2012.”
Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe commented: “I’m looking forward to working with Craig. He has a strong record as chief constable in Cumbria during some very testing times. His experience of working as the ACPO lead on the race equality portfolio, which includes stop and search and the monitoring of police powers, means that he has experience across the board. I have no doubt about his ability to help us deliver world class policing of which Londoners can be proud.”
Craig Mackey: the CV to date
Craig Mackey joined the police service in 1984 having previously been in the Merchant Navy. His initial police service was spent in Wiltshire where he held a variety of operational roles and commands. He also served as a staff officer at Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, in turn completing specialist and thematic inspections.
In November 2001, Mackey joined Gloucestershire Constabulary as assistant chief constable. He was the Gold Commander for the terrorism operation in Gloucester that resulted in the arrest of the second shoe bomber, Sajid Badat, and led the policing of the annual Gold Cup as well as the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Come 2005 and Mackey was appointed deputy chief constable where he worked on the development of joint police, fire and ambulance emergency services Control Rooms in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Then, in September 2007, he was appointed chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary.
Mackey was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours List of 2009.
Comment from the Metropolitan Police Authority
Speaking about Mackey’s appointment, Kit Malthouse – the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) – said: “On behalf of the MPA I welcome Craig Mackey as Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service. Craig’s experience and skills will stand him in good stead for this demanding position in the UK’s largest police service. We welcome him to the team, and will expect him to perform to the utmost as he helps shape the Met to tackle the issues that matter most to Londoners and make this great city a safer place for us all.”
Mackey’s appointment as Deputy Commissioner is for a four-year fixed term period at an annual starting salary of GB pound 214,722.
The MPA interview was conducted on Friday 16 December by a panel of MPA members: Kit Malthouse (MPA chairman and Assembly member), Reshard Auladin and Cindy Butts (both independent members), Toby Harris (Home Secretary’s appointment), Joanne McCartney and Jenny Jones (both Assembly members).
Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Sir Denis O’Connor and Catherine Crawford, CEO of the MPA, acted as advisors to the panel.
The Home Secretary and the Mayor of London interviewed the candidate(s) for the role on Tuesday 20 December.